Going For Broke

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

Maithripala Sirisena, Mahinda Rajapaksa and G. L. Peiris

“For both Prabhakaran’s war of national liberation and Rajapaksa’s war for national sovereignty, one unstated motive assumed the greatest significance – the entrenchment of unchallenged personal power”.
UTHR-J (Special Report No 34 – 13.12.2009)
Sri Lanka is to buy 14 Mi-171 military helicopters from Russia, two+ years after the war was won.
According to Wikipedia, the average unit-cost of a helicopter is US$11.5 million. The helicopters are being supplied “on account of the Russian state credit given to Sri Lanka by Russia in 2010 for purchasing Russian armaments” (ITAR-TASS – 15.8.2011). According to this loan-agreement, signed in February 2010 (by Lankan Ambassador and Rajapaksa-cousin Udayanga Weeratunga), Colombo is to purchase Russian weapons worth US$300 million within 10 years.
Under Vladimir Putin, armaments became a major Russian export, so the deal is in Russia’s interest. But is it beneficial for Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans? The deal was signed, post-war. This is a loan with interest and not a grant. Why exacerbate our already sky-high indebtedness, to buy exorbitant-weapons after the war has been won?

Who or what is the regime arming itself against? The Tigers are dead. Sri Lanka faces no external military-threat. Is this weapon buying-spree a way for the powers-that-be to make mega-bucks? Or is the regime preparing for the day it will have to defend itself against an Egyptian-type popular revolt?
Last week, Minister G. L. Peiris accused the Tamil Diaspora of launching an “economic onslaught against Sri Lanka to prevent and derail it from gaining economic prosperity” (Daily Mirror – 18.8.2011). The Minister should have pointed the finger inwards. The real obstructions to development are the Rajapaksas’ policy of exorbitant defence costs, post-war, the Rajapaksa proclivity for waste (Rs. 31 million on propaganda for ‘Api Wawamu’) and the Rajapaksa tolerance of official-corruption.
No sooner than the adulterated-petrol scandal subsided, an adulterated-cement crisis erupted. The latter is of far greater consequence, since builders are warning about a consequent debasement of construction-quality. Senior SLFP leader Minister Maitripala Sirisena recently sounded a warning about “the widespread corruption in the construction of highways” (The Sunday Times – 14.8.2011). Interestingly, President Rajapaksa is the Minister of Highways; and the warning was made at a top-level meeting chaired by Presidential-sibling Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Suicidal Maximalism

The excessive defence costs stem, in part, from the Rajapaksa policy of peace-at-gun-point. The North is under de-facto military occupation, maintained at enormous politico-economic cost.
The only way out is to concede a degree of autonomy to the Tamils, ideally along Indian lines.

Grease Devils: Busting The Myth

People demanding answers, Enraged crowds burned a Police four wheel drive vehicle in Kinniya , Abubakr Kuddoos displays the scar on his neck inflicted by an army knife and He died young, a picture of Mowjood from his last election campaign

By Abdul H. Azeez - in Arugam Bay/Pottuvil

The Grease Devils or grease yakas’ hold on the public imagination is reaching epic levels. Mass paranoia, fear and outrage have broken out in the Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts with the public taking the law into their own hands.
Some blame law enforcement officials for not taking enough interest in the complaints, others blame a paranoid public and fear-mongering as the primary culprits and call them the real grease yakas. Whilst yet others, a growing majority, quietly point to actual attacks and instances of abuse and say that there is no smoke without fire.
The quiet beach front town of Arugam Bay is bustling with ever increasing tourist activity. I arrived on Wednesday (17) on the inaugural Sri Lankan airlines flight, a sea plane that starts from Kelaniya and reaches Arugam Bay in a record 50 minutes. The plane swoops over the lagoon affording a beautiful view and if I was not here exclusively on work, nothing but the beach would have been on my mind. But the relaxed attitude of the town, with its laid-back lifestyle that draws so many people there, was marred last week by a brief but bloody spurt of violence that left one man dead in the nearby town of Pottuvil.

Rajapaksa Govt. on razor's edge

• JVP goes into full-scale opposition with Weerawansa also coming out with all guns blazing
• CWC UPF and SLMC also sound warning of revolt
• Debate on telecom deal, questions as to who gets a US$ 10m brokerage commission

By  Political Editor

Trouble shooting seems never to end for President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is dogged by a plethora of issues after just 18 months in office.

The Government's moves to acquire MiG-29 multi-role combat aircraft from Russia at a substantial cost (to be paid later) and the controversy over the proposed sale of Sri Lanka Telecom shares held by Japan's NTT to a Malaysian company - both exclusive disclosures by The Sunday Times were clearly uppermost.

He returned on Tuesday night with a large retinue after visiting Jordan to attend the World Economic Forum and ending an official visit to Kuwait. For over 24 hours, the defence and security establishments were without an official head. His brother, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa left for Turkey on Monday night. Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, who acts in his absence, was away with the President. As the political head, however, there was Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickreman-ayake.

Tale of two wars: Ground battle and media battle

• News management of Delft attack worsens crisis of credibility
• Undeclared war takes fearful turn as purchases worth billions are made in exclusive secrecy
• Was Reclamation Road bomb meant for military bus or some other target?

By Iqbal Athas

The island of Delft (Nedun Theevu or Long Island), off the northern Jaffna peninsula, was known centuries ago under Portuguese rule as Cow Island. There were plenty of cattle there. Yet the mortality rate was high because they sometimes fed on the venomous herbs that grew wild.

The Portuguese had a fort there. The ruins are still evident. During that period, they brought some horses into the island. A historian later recorded "multiplying in time produced a certain kind of horses that are very small, but hardy and very fit to travel on stony and rocky grounds."

Map of Jaffna

The descendants of the Portuguese horses, ponies as they call them now, are perhaps the only living remnants of that era that remain in Delft Island. It is 35 square miles (seven miles long and five miles wide). The island is the largest among the seven located off the peninsula. The main occupation for some 6,000 civilians is fishing. Located some 18 nautical miles from the Jaffna peninsula, access is only by boat from the Kurikattuvan jetty in the Kayts island. Another is the Kayts jetty. The area was under the control of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP). After the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement of February 2002, a Navy detachment was positioned there to supplement a Police Station that existed.

Is upcoming poll final nail in UNP coffin?

For the umpteenth week running, it is the turmoil in the opposition United National Party (UNP) that continues to make news - and last week was no different with new twists and turns emerging in this on-going saga.
It will be recalled that the present impasse in the UNP is because the so-called ‘reformist’ group of the UNP led by Sajith Premadasa is challenging party and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s credentials to lead the party, especially in the context of several heavy election defeats.
Last week saw the first formal challenge to the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe. This came in the form of a proposal by the Premadasa faction at the UNP parliamentary group meeting suggesting that the leadership be handed over to Karu Jayasuriya.

Sparks fly at UNP group meeting

The prognostic we made in this column last week that the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting of the UNP Parliamentary group would be decisive for the future of the party came true when it unanimously adopted a resolution proposed by Sajith Premadasa and seconded by Ranjith Madduma Bandara calling for the appointment of Karu Jayasuriya as the leader of the party. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was taken unawares by this resolution. A highly agitated Wickremesinghe made a bid to walk out of the meeting which was immediately thwarted by the MPs. Several MPs warned that if he left the meeting; they would continue the proceedings with Karu Jayasuriya in the chair. A visibly angry, but subdued Ranil Wickremesinghe returned to the chair.Plan to induct Karu as leader The action plan to install Karu Jayasuriya as the party leader by ousting Ranil Wickremesinghe was beaten into shape at a meeting of the Sajith group on August 8 Monday. The reformists wanted to meet Karu Jayasuriya to finalise the plan the same day. However, Jayasuriya at the time was in Matara attending a protest organised by Mangala Samaraweera. In the meantime, Imitiaz Bakir Markar and Ranjith Madduma Bandara got busy drafting the resolution to be moved at the Parliamentary group meeting the following day. Later the reformist group called on Karu Jayasuriya who had returned from Matara at his Amarasekera Mawatha residence about 10 in the night. Their deliberations continued till predawn the following day.

Colombo’s facelift and the one-way road to Chinatown at Galle Face

by Rajan Philips

The facelift operations in Colombo are impressive. The environmental police, cleanup crews and garbage collectors are keeping the streets clean. Pavement bricklayers and traffic police are busy on Galle Road as long sections of Colombo’s main thoroughfare are being turned into a one-way street and the pavement is being widened in some parts of the roadway. Newspapers are abuzz with the juicier news of land deals and glitzy development projects. The target of all deals is Galle Face and all of them appear to show a Chinese connection, as China seems to be taking India’s utmost isle on a good-as-long-as-it-lasts merry-go-round in the global circus.

Sri Lanka In Tamil Nadu

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

“Certain short-sighted, narrow-minded parties are talking about the 13th Amendment without considering the development or welfare of the people who live in the North and East”.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa (Election-speech in Chavakachcheri – 19.7.2011)

When Tamil Nadu’s newly-elected Chief Minister publicly advocated an economic blockade of Sri Lanka and a war crimes trial of the Rajapaksas, Colombo responded with more than a touch of arrogance: “Sri Lanka deals with India and not with individual states”, Cabinet spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella declared, and added, snidely, “Ms. Jayalalitha is free to come here, with the permission of Delhi” (The Hindu – 10.6.2011). The Rajapaksa regime’s dismissive attitude towards Tamil Nadu is clearly unshared by the world’s sole (albeit somewhat ailing) superpower. Last week Hilary Clinton became the first US Secretary of State to make an official visit to Chennai and to hold talks with Chief Minister Jayalalitha Jayaram, including on Sri Lanka.

India’s Chinese Bogeymen

by Frederica Jansz

Bejing has considerable leverage in post conflict Sri Lanka.  Chinese involvement in the defence sector has not reduced after the war, and the Chinese are seen diversifying from being just suppliers of defence equipment to infrastructure and capacity building.

The Chinese have used North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) and subsequently the state owned China Poly Technologies Limited for the supply of defence equipment to Sri Lanka.  Chinese defence related industries like CATIC have diversified into infrastructure development in the North, specifically to the A-9 and A-32 roads and also to the construction of a luxury hotel in Colombo Fort.

US builds closer, strategic ties with Tamil Nadu

Sunday Times

External Affairs Ministry fails to see danger signals in Clinton's Chennai visit US Congress resolutions after Channel 4 film add pressure on Govt. while embassy fails miserably Govt. seeks crucial vote of confidence from North amid growing credibility crisis

Events across both sides of the Palk Strait, the waters that divide Sri Lanka and India, were much in focus this week. Across the seas, the world's only super power fired a strong diplomatic salvo on Sri Lanka. That was through the visit of US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, to Chennai -- easily the first such official engagement from a highest ranking dignitary from Washington DC. The conduct of mature diplomacy, where there is little gung-ho or rhetoric on sensitive issues perhaps led sections of the government and their supporters to heave a sigh of relief that there was no fire and thunder. The message was neither loud nor clear to them. It was reminiscent of how a Sri Lanka delegation headed by Attorney General Mohan Peiris secretly meeting with the UN Advisory Panel chaired by Indonesia's Marzuki Darusman probing alleged war crimes -- an event revealed exclusively by the Sunday Times on March 6. After the unpublicised meeting on February 22, initially covered up by UN spokespersons in New York, the talk did the rounds at the highest levels of the government that all "issues have been sorted out."

Rule by ballot after years of rule by bullet begins in North

The Nation
At the elections held yesterday to 65 local government bodies which had to be postponed due to election petitions, the government had thrown its full weight behind its propaganda campaign in the North. A large number of UPFA Ministers and MPs had been vigorously campaigning in the province for several weeks in support of the party candidates in the running for 16 local bodies in Jaffna district and three bodies in Kilinochchi district.

Ranil’s appeal for more time for Govt; Ban responds cautiously

President must show remorse for killings like Emperor Asoka, says UNP leader



UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has agreed to give Sri Lanka more time to engage in what he called a “meeting of minds” to address the concerns of the International Community, but said this could not be an indefinite period.
His response came after Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe met the UN Chief in New York on Tuesday and appealed to him to give more time and space for the Sri Lankan Government to work out a political settlement to the “democracy deficit” in the post-war period.
The meeting was a rare one as the UN Chief normally does not meet with Opposition leaders of countries. He was accompanied by his Chief of Staff Satish Nambiar while Devinda Subasinghe, former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US, accompanied the UNP leader.

CAN SRI LANKA DITCH AMERICA AND EMBRACE CHINA?

By Gamini Weerakoon

Sri Lanka’s friends - Dimitry Medvedev and Hu Jintao

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa went into warm embraces with Presidents Hu Jintao of China and Dmitry Medvedev of Russia at the St Petersburg International Economic Conference last month but there were only brickbats for Rajapaksa from British political leaders such as David Cameron and the US State Department during the same period.

THE CURSE OF INFALLIBLE LEADERS

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

“Whoever says he’s 100% right is a fanatic, a thug, and the worst kind of rascal.”
Czeslaw Milosz (The Captive Mind)

Hosni Mubarak, Muammar Gaddafi, Vellupillai Pirapaharan AND Saddam Hussein

Last week, in a question-and-answer session with five editors, Indian PM Manmohan Singh stated that the ‘legitimate grievances’ of Lankan Tamils did not disappear with the LTTE. He went on to underscore the need for a ‘new system of institutional reforms’ which will make Tamils feel “they are equal citizens of Sri Lanka’ and enable them to “lead a life of dignity and self-respect”.
Last week, the US State Department Spokesperson indicated that if Sri Lanka is ‘unable or unwilling’ to investigate alleged human rights violations, the international community may be compelled to examine other (‘international accountability’) options.

KILLING FIELD AND SRI LANKA

SUNDAY LEADER

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

We had fed the heart on fantasies, The heart’s grown brutal from the fare; More substance in our enmities Than in our love….”
Yeats (The Stare’s Nest)

Rajapaksa regime subjecting Sri Lanka to global ridicule

By Mangala Samaraweera

The ineptitude of the present regime in the face of intensifying and relentless international pressure is driving Sri Lanka further and further into isolation and is likely to have devastating effects for this country’s prospects for rebuilding and reconciliation in the post-conflict phase.

The Tamil Nadu Resolution: Jayalalitha secures Chennai stopover in Delhi-Colombo shuttle diplomacy

Rajan Philips

The Tamil Nadu State Assembly resolution of June 8, 2011, apart from provoking conflicting emotions among Sri Lankan Sinhalese and Tamil nationalists, served notice on the Union government that Chennai is to not to be by-passed in future shuttle diplomacy between Colombo and Delhi. Delhi would appear to have heard the message loud and clear. A day after the resolution, the Indian troika of National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar stopped in Chennai en route to their pre-scheduled meetings in Colombo.

War Crimes and White Flags

Tassie Seneviratne

Senior Superintendent of Police (Rtd.)

There is so much energy generated in allegations of Human Rights violations and War Crimes, against Sri Lanka in the international arena, that the heat could be utilized to throw some light on reality. The hottest salvo against Sri Lanka is the allegation of "War Crimes and White Flags" aimed by none clean enough to point an untainted finger at us.

VANQUISHING BIN LADEN AND PRABAHAKARAN

Victor Ivan

At last the USA has been able to assassinate Bin Laden, America’s No. 1 enemy, the terrorist who terrified the whole of America. Some time earlier, the American intelligence sources were able to track down that Bin Laden was hiding in a mansion in Abbottabad, Pakistan. When the findings were confirmed, the operation to kill Bin Laden was launched whilst the President of the  USA and his senior aides were watching the video screens of the operation taking place on the other side of the world.

A PEACE OF LOST OPPORTUNITIES

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“….this way leads us nowhere …..to continue so has no glory”.

Neruda (The People)

Jayalalitha Jeyaram, Manmohan Singh, Mahinda Rajapaksa and G.L Peiris

The second anniversary of defeating the LTTE is being celebrated with quintessentially Rajapaksa pomp and pageantry.
Peace has been good to the Ruling Family. It has won all elections, obtained a two-third majority in parliament, removed presidential term-limits, enhanced presidential powers, stymied the opposition and discouraged dissent. Post-war, the Rajapaksas rule continues untrammelled (with sons and nephews being groomed to takeover from the fathers and uncles, someday).

HOW SRI LANKA DEFEATED TERRORISM, DEFENSE SEMINAR; OBSERVATIONS FROM A PARTICIPANT

 Shakya Lahiru Pathmalal

Participants listen intently at the Defense Seminar

From the 31st of April to the 2nd of May I attended the Defense Seminar organised by the Sri Lankan Army.
I wish to draw on what I saw as some of the positive and negative points of the conference. I will also comment on some of the many ‘highlights’ that occurred during the conference and perhaps give a different narrative of these from the ones I have read so far. What can be said from the outset is the fact that the seminar was not the resounding success that it was portrayed to be by some parties, nor was it a dismal failure. The seminar was a mixed bag.

KILLING FIELD AND SRI LANKA

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

SUNDAY LEADER

“We had fed the heart on fantasies, The heart’s grown brutal from the fare; More substance in our enmities Than in our love….”
Yeats (The Stare’s Nest)
On 22nd October 2007, a group of Black Tigers launched a devastating attack on the Saliyapura air force camp. Prior to setting off on their fatal mission, the attackers participated in the usual Black Tiger rituals with Vellupillai Pirapaharan. The pictures of young men and women, destined for death, being blessed by the stolidly middle-aged Tiger Supremo were publicised by the LTTE, even before the attack was over. That act of ruthless premeditation was a chilling reminder that Mr. Pirapaharan’s claim to greatness rested on human sacrifices and the Tiger prospered by devouring its own young.

Senior Minister lauds UNOPS’ contribution towards community development

W. G. S. S. Ranatunga

 June 18, 2011,

Senior Minister for Food and Nutrition, P. Dayaratne undertook an inspection tour of development projects in Dehiattakandiya, recently. Peter Smith, Senior Projects Manager, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) briefed the Minister on the development initiatives launched to improve the living standards of the people of the region.

Rajapaksa regime subjecting Sri Lanka to global ridicule

 Mangala Samaraweera
  June 18, 2011,

The ineptitude of the present regime in the face of intensifying and relentless international pressure is driving Sri Lanka further and further into isolation and is likely to have devastating effects for this country’s prospects for rebuilding and reconciliation in the post-conflict phase.

Shootings, beatings and ‘pinkam’ wars

 June 18, 2011,

A  major topic of conversation last week was the Channel 4 documentary aired last Tuesday. Channel 4 is a small British TV Channel but the documentary it aired got more publicity in this country than a similar documentary on Sri Lanka aired on the international TV channel Al Jazeera several weeks ago. To make that documentary, an Al Jazeera team had visited Sri Lanka and was taken around to see the conflict zone.

The Tamil Nadu Resolution: Jayalalitha secures Chennai stopover in Delhi-Colombo shuttle diplomacy

Rajan Philips

June 18, 2011,

The Tamil Nadu State Assembly resolution of June 8, 2011, apart from provoking conflicting emotions among Sri Lankan Sinhalese and Tamil nationalists, served notice on the Union government that Chennai is to not to be by-passed in future shuttle diplomacy between Colombo and Delhi. Delhi would appear to have heard the message loud and clear.

War Crimes and White Flags

Tassie Seneviratne

 June 18, 2011,

There is so much energy generated in allegations of Human Rights violations and War Crimes, against Sri Lanka in the international arena, that the heat could be utilized to throw some light on reality. The hottest salvo against Sri Lanka is the allegation of "War Crimes and White Flags" aimed by none clean enough to point an untainted finger at us.

UN council recommends 2nd term for Ban Ki-moon

UNITED NATIONS, June 18 (Reuters) -

The Security Council unanimously recommended on Friday that Ban Ki-moon be re-elected as U.N. secretary-general, virtually assuring the South Korean diplomat of five more years in the top U.N. job.

The 192-nation General Assembly is planning to meet on Tuesday to formally reappoint Ban, 67, to a second term of office beginning on January 1, diplomats said. The council decision, originally planned for Thursday, was delayed for one day because one of the U.N. regional groups -- Latin America and the Caribbean -- had not agreed to endorse Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister.

Diplomats said the group had still not achieved consensus by Friday morning, but the council went ahead with its recommendation. Endorsement by regional groups is considered desirable but is not technically necessary.

President to commission Kokavil tower tomorrow

SUNDAY OBSERVER: 05/06/2010

Mohammed NAALIR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will commission South East Asia's tallest multi-purpose transmission tower at Kokavil in Kilinochchi tomorrow. The height of the tower is 174 metres.
When the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) was set up in 1982 the Japanese engineers selected two locations to set up transmission stations - Kokavil for North and at Pidurutalagala for the rest of the country.
A 100 metre high transmission tower was set up in Kokavil. The Kokavil tower was destroyed in 1990 by LTTE terrorists, Mass Media and Information Ministry Secretary W.B. Ganegala said.
Addressing the media at Mass Media and Information Ministry Ganegala said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa instructed Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa to reconstruct this tower under the Uthuru Wasanthaya Northern development drive.
The foundation stone for the tower was laid in 2009 by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the then Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.
The material for the tower were brought from China. Amidst various difficulties Sri Lankan engineers, tower constructors and workers successfully completed the construction work.

Dying to decline a pension

SUNDAY ISLAND: 05/06/2010

Before discussing the events of the past week, we should take a look at a working ‘provident fund cum pension scheme’ in this country.  Many people appear to think this is an unusual arrangement, and that there is something improper in allocating a part of a worker’s provident fund to a pension scheme.  And since the capital of the money that is so allocated to a pension fund will never be paid back to the worker, there are dark whisperings of ‘stealing the people’s money’ and the government wanting to avoid paying lump sums to retirees and fobbing them off with a monthly pittance instead.

While the concept of a provident fund is familiar, that of contributory pension funds are not, and here lies the problem. Wily trade unionists have been spreading panic among workers by saying that the government is going to ‘steal’ a part of the provident funds of workers and that once it goes to a pension fund the workers will never see that money again.  In a situation where provident fund contributors are used to receiving the total amount lying to their credit in the fund, losing ownership of a substantial part of that accumulated capital would certainly be resisted. 

Never again a civil war in Sri Lanka!

SUNDAY ISLAND: 05/06/2010

By Dr.M.A.Mohamed Saleem

We learn from the media that External Affairs Minister G. L. Pieris, speaking to a select group of journalists in New Delhi recently declared… "There is never going to be another civil war in Sri Lanka. Never again" (The Sunday Island May 22). Although it is indeed comforting there are many, inside and outside this country, who would have asked the same question that was raised by one from audience – how could he be sure? And, also find the Minister’s answer less convincing.

Who Will Police The Police

SUNDAY LEADER: 05/06/2010

The latest incident of police brutality has once again highlighted serious problems facing that service. The police service was always seen as corrupt. Those who defend the police say that they are underpaid, over worked and have to constantly please politicians. They claim that this has lowered morale and discipline.

Although these issues are valid, it is also a fact that the police are one of the, if not the most, corrupt organizations in the country, except for governing politicians. That and the continuous interference by politicians have taken it’s toll.  All of the above, underscore reasons behind the fiasco that took place in Katunayake last Monday, May 30, resulting in scores of people being injured.

India destabilising Lanka again

SUNDAY TIMES 5/29/2011

The military parade to commemorate the second anniversary of our own 'V Day' was impressive, but coming as it did in the backdrop of protests by workers, university dons and a host of external compulsions, the Government is being accused of 'milking the issue' and falling back on the defeat of terrorism in May 2009 to give impetus to its political longevity. There was also an element of hollowness to it when, at Hulftsdorp Hill, not far away from the parade, the General who led the ground forces to that momentous victory was making a dock statement in his defence in a trial instituted by those taking the salute at Galle Face. Having concluded his statement he was escorted back to jail where he has been for the past year and more. That itself is also a damper on what is expected to be a glitzy conference scheduled to begin next week on the manner in which one of the world's deadliest terrorist organisations was defeated. Something is not right when you have to stage Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark.

Lanka wins diplomatic battle at UNHRC

UNSG’s report won’t be taken up at sessions beginning tomorrow

SUNDAY TIMES 5/29/2011

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Panel of Experts report on Sri Lanka will not come up for discussion when the UN's Human Rights Council meets in Geneva tomorrow (May 30), diplomatic sources told the Sunday Times. Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe who was vested with the added subject of Human Rights earlier this year is leading the Sri Lanka delegation to the UNHRC's sessions. He and the rest of the Sri Lankan contingent which includes Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Attorney General Mohan Peiris have been in Geneva for a week lobbying representatives from other countries, especially those from the 47 member-states in the UNHRC to ward off any moves to raise the UNSG's adverse report on Sri Lanka during the sessions. The report calls for an international mechanism to investigate allegations of violations of human rights and humanitarian law during the last stages of the government's military offensive against the LTTE. The UNHRC is one of the inter-government agencies that could trigger such an investigation if its 47 member-states vote in favour of a resolution calling for such an investigation.